Security guards held for heist of Rs. 16 lakh from ATM booth

They had spent close to two months in planning what seemed like the perfect heist to them.

They had spent close to two months in planning what seemed like the perfect heist to them.

Popular crime shows on television and movies were their inspiration and also a source from where they picked up clues/skills. However, the free run enjoyed by Umakant Tiwari, 26, and Bindesh Yadav, 21, suddenly ended two weeks after they broke into an ATM booth and fled with Rs. 16 lakh in cash in Mid-June.

South Delhi police finally arrested the duo for using gas-cutters to break into an ATM booth on south Delhi's Rao Tula Ram Marg and escaping with the cash.

Chhaya Sharma, DCP (south), said, "They had carefully planned the heist, which they executed on June 17, over a period of around two months. They had also identified a secluded ATM booth and got jobs as security guards. Crime shows such as 'CID' and 'Crime Patrol' had inspired them."

Police said Tiwari had managed to get a job as a security guard on false identity. He even used a fake name, Manoj, to get the job.

On June 17, they broke into an Axis Bank ATM, which Tiwari alias Manoj had managed to be posted as a security guard, in Vasant Vihar and fled with the money.

Police said CCTV footage procured from the booth helped the police zero in on them.

While Tiwari was arrested from Andheria More, Yadav was nabbed from RK Puram area and Rs. 14.01 lakh in cash was recovered from them on Saturday.

"The footage showed Tiwari, who got the job as Manoj, had used duct tape to partially cover the lens of the camera," said DCP Sharma.

Police said the duo had practiced cutting iron sheet using a gas cutter at their rented accommodation.

Three uniforms of different security companies operational in the Capital and a driving licence in Tiwari's name was also found in a garbage heap behind the building where they were staying.